Arthur

At Monday’s Altoona Area School Board meeting, district officials bid farewell to outgoing technology director Bryce Cossitor, who’s retiring in December after 40 years with the district.

Cossitor, who was not present at the meeting, will be succeeded by Justin Arthur, who is returning to Altoona Area after 11 years with the Hollidaysburg Area School District.

Arthur was hired at a prorated salary of $114,000 during the meeting. He began his career in Altoona Area working as a teacher and an instructional technology coach for 10 years.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and excited to be back,” Arthur said before the meeting. “I look forward to just having time to transfer some knowledge from (Cossitor’s) experience over the years and continue to carry on great things at the Altoona Area School District.”

During the meeting, Superintendent Brad Hatch said district officials would like to wish Cossitor a “wonderful retirement” and are excited to have Arthur back.

“When you lose someone who has that level and years of experience, you’re losing not just an amazing person, but institutional knowledge,” Hatch said of Cossitor’s retirement.

As part of a list of personnel items, the board also created a director of instructional technology position and hired instructional technology coach Nicholas Caminiti for the position at a prorated rate of $86,000.

The base salary for the position is $84,000, according to the meeting’s agenda, which states an additional $2,000 is reflective of Caminiti having a doctoral degree.

“In this day and age in education, instructional technology is part of everything that we do every day,” Hatch said. “We’re really looking forward to a successful transition with those employments.”

At the start of the meeting, board President Val Mignogna announced the board was tabling a confidential settlement and general release agreement with the parents of a student in the district, which was the only item listed under new business.

Hatch said the settlement wasn’t voted on during Monday’s meeting because there is currently further discussion between the parties involved.

When asked if the settlement involves money, Hatch said, “It involves considerations on both sides.”

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.