SALEM — During Monday’s Salem BOE meeting administrators thanked community organizations for supporting district athletics.

Treasurer Mike Douglas thanked the Salem Athletic Boosters, which are a separate entity from the school district, for that group’s support in replacing the district’s junior high sports uniforms. Douglas said the boosters covered half the cost of the new uniforms. The remaining cost was covered by the district with funding from interest revenue.

“I’d like to thank the Salem Athletic Boosters,” Douglas said. “Mr. Kirkland and I worked hand-in-hand with them along with our athletic director to provide all new uniforms for all junior high sport across the board. The booster club and I got together, and they decided to cover half the cost of all the new uniforms which is about $35,000. So they covered half, and the district was able to cover the other half with some of our interest money, so all the junior high uniforms are new, and we have the coaches on a new plan to ensure our kids uniforms are getting repaired and replaced in a timely manner.”

During his report, Superintendent Sean Kirkland thanked Salem AMVETS Post 45 for its ongoing support of the district’s athletic programs, noting that members have been “big supporters of Salem Athletics for a while now,” providing regular financial support. Kirkland also said that at this year’s Athletic Boosters Golf Outing they had matched the total value of the event’s sponsorships.

“At our Athletic Booster Golf Outing this year sponsorships came in somewhere around $9,200 and the Salem AMVETS matched the sponsorships, so that doubled what they made at that golf outing. So, I wanted to publicly acknowledge the Salem AMVETS and all they do for Salem athletics and Salem Schools a heartfelt thank you,” said Kirkland.

During his report Kirkland also offered condolences to the family of the recently passed Michael Cosgrove, who served his full 35-year career in education with the district.

“To his family, to Wendy Jessica and Josh I want to send our condolences, Mike had the reputation of being an extremely hard-working individual, and one who was extremely genuine and one who the kids really, truly like, so again just to let his family know we’re thinking of him and Mike will be missed,” said Kirkland.

Kirkland also reminded residents that convocation for the 2024-2025 school year would be held Aug. 21, with students’ first day of classes set for Aug. 22.

The board also approved several personnel items, including: pay scale increases for Jennifer Neapolitan (MA+15 to MA+30), Alec Ring (BA150 to MA), Julir Moore (MA+15 to MA+30), Kent Paulini (BA to MA), Sara Blair (BA to BA150), Kari Newburn (MA+15 to MA+30), and Kelsie Markijohn (MA+15 to MA+30); a continuing contract for Alison Haynes; transportation stipends for Carol Speece and Brianne Frank as on-bus-instructors for the 2024-2025 school year; the appointment of custodian Mary Groff to clean the bus garage one day per pay period for the 2024-2025 school year; the resignations of Salem High School custodian Mark Chuey, Reilly Elementary cafeteria server Karleen Gout, Reilly Elementary duty aide Teresa Hixson, high school cafeteria cashier Jill Becker, and Reilly Elementary cafeteria server Jennifer Burbick; appointment of Dominque Dankovich and Delany Mellinger as staff for Kindergarten Camp held Aug. 5-9; the hire of Southeast Elementary School cafeteria cashier Samantha Smith, custodians Jessica Helman, and Julie Hanes, high school cafeteria cashier Larissa Burgess, and Reilly Elementary cafeteria cashier Maryann Manning; the hire of Megan Gustaevel as an athletic trainer for junior varsity and varsity football games only for the 2024-2025 school year; the list of certified and classified substitutes; the creation of two classified bus attendant duty aide positions; the hire of Larry Truzzie to provide early intervention services for Salem students at a rate of $300 per day up to 100 days during the 2024-2025 school year to be paid out of the IDEA B Grant, and to provide counseling services for St. Paul Elementary students at a rate of $300 per day one day per week up to 36 days during the 2024-2025 school year; the hire of Grade 7-12 music teacher Walker Martz; a school psychology internship for Yissel Martinez for the 2024-25 school year; athletic supplemental positions for the 2024 – 2025 school year; and the list of fall game workers for the 2024-2025 school year.

The board of education will meet next at 7 p.m. Sept. 16.