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<p>HANOVER TWP. &#8212; A part-time secretary losing her job questioned the board&#8217;s frugality in hiring a full-time replacement, broke down in tears, and accused the board of making the move to hire the wife of a friend of board President John Mahle at Tuesday&#8217;s Hanover Area School Board meeting.</p><p>The agenda didn&#8217;t list the item, but Solicitor Jack Dean announced during the work session prior to the regular meeting that two items would be added: one eliminated two part-time secretary posts at Hanover Green Elementary, and the other appointed Judy McGavin, currently a paraprofessional in the district, as a confidential secretary at the school.</p><p>During public comment, Nancy Karpovich was the only person to speak, introducing herself as one of the two part-time secretaries being let go. She said she has worked for the district for more than 15 years, had multiple positive recommendations from other employees, and asked why she was losing her job.</p><p>Noting she was required to apply for the full-time position despite her tenure and knowledge of the school, Karpovich said &#8220;the public should know why you are doing this, because we have no money.&#8221;</p><p>The district has been struggling to pay bills, and the board has repeatedly said the problem is multiple bookkeeping issues discovered since Tom Cipriano left the post of business manager this summer after he learned his contract would not be renewed at the start of the school year.</p><p>Karpovich said she is on Social Security and thus does not get benefits, and that she was paid $8,000 a year working form 8 a.m. to noon. She said her salary and that of the other part-time secretary was much less than the $22,000 that Dean said McGavin would get, adding the board will need to pay benefits as well.</p><p>Karpovich also said she would look into what recourse she has, including looking for an attorney&#8217;s advice.</p><p>No one on the board responded to questions by Karpovich. Dean said it was a personnel matter that could not be discussed in public. The board voted 8-1 to hire McGavin, with board member Lorraine Heydt casting the lone vote against.</p><p>After the meeting, Karpovich broke down in tears as she talked about losing her job, noting she didn&#8217;t even know when her final day will be. She claimed the board made the move because McGavin&#8217;s husband is a close friend of Mahle.</p><p>Mahle did not dispute the claim. But he said he is friends with many people, then added &#8220;I&#8217;m friends wither her,&#8221; referring to Karpovich. He also said the move was made because the school &#8220;needs a full-time secretary.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Part-time secretary at Hanover Area loses job, alleges cronyism