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<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; Despite a decision last week that extended the busing contract with Rinehimer Bus Lines from Feb. 1 to June 30, Crestwood school board solicitor Jack Dean said the matter is still very much open to negotiation.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re still talking with Rinehimer,&#8221; Dean said. &#8220;But there are some other issues which entered the picture so we made a decision to extend the termination date.&#8221;</p><p>Last fall, a state audit discovered not all bus drivers had mandated clearances.</p><p>Rinehimer, of Wapwallopen, eventually provided clearances for some of the drivers. But auditors discovered Crestwood did not have them on file, as is required.</p><p>It caused the district to cancel two days of school in October and then start a third day with a two-hour delay because teachers had to accompany some drivers who still lacked the proper paperwork.</p><p>On the heels of that issue, the board had voted to terminate the transportation contract with Rinehimer on Feb. 1. That decision stood until last week.</p><p>Dean and school board chairman Bill Jones still contend that besides Rinehimer, &#8220;Proposals have been submitted to the school district by five or six other (transportation) companies. So, we&#8217;ll continue with negotiations and see what develops.&#8221;</p><p>The problem with the clearances helped lead to the exit of Superintendent Joseph Gorham. Chief of Operations Christopher Gegaris was also suspended with pay after the issue came to light. Their resignations were accepted by the school board last Thursday night.</p><p>Meanwhile, Acting Superintendent Joseph Rasmus is set to assume the job on a permanent basis starting July 1, pending contract negotiations. </p><p>Rasmas brings a long list of educational credits to the post, including degrees from Wilkes University, Montclair State University in New Jersey and Marywood University. His superintendent&#8217;s letter is through Marywood. Moreover, he is working to secure a doctoral degree from Marywood. </p><p>His teaching and administrative experience includes a stint in the Northwest Area School District and 14 years as an instructor at Wilkes.</p><p>In other recent business, the board:</p><p>&#8226; Approved the Wonderwheel Reading Program as outlined by elementary principal Kevin Seyer.</p><p>&#8226; Paid $3,616 to Quad 3 engineers for work on the fieldhouse project.</p><p>&#8226; Approved the employment of Krisanne Glasser as a bus driver. It was stated Glasser has all the necessary state clearances.</p><p>&#8226; OK&#8217;d the retirement request of special education secretary Gail Prutzman, effective Aug. 5.</p><p>&#8226; Approved Scott Lenio as boys tennis coach; Anthony Deluca as assistant tennis coach; Michael Williams as boys volleyball coach and Chelsea Pike as assistant volleyball coach.</p><p>&#8226; Approved the request of Ryan Arcangeli &#8212; newly hired football coach &#8212; to resign as girls track and field coach.</p><p>&#8226; Hired Ashley Colarusso, Megan Johansen and Deborah Opiel as professional staff substitutes.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_DeanMug.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dean </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_DeanMug.cmyk_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dean </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Crestwood solicitor: Transportation contract still an open matter