The Williams Valley school board voted unanimously to hire a new superintendent. Dr. David Hatfield, former superintendent at Halifax Area School District, officially takes the reins this week under a three-year contract that expires in 2026. His annual salary will be $125,000.
“Thank you very much,” Hatfield responded to the board. “I’m just so excited to be on board, working with the children every day in person. I’m in the right place and the right time.
“My door is always open for people with issues and those who want to talk,” he added.
Acting Superintendent Paul Caputo said Hatfield has well-rounded experience and is well-qualified for the position.
He said he started his career in 1992 as a substitute teacher and has assumed various roles in the ensuing years, including social studies teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, high school principal, director of curriculum and, most recently, superintendent at Halifax.
Caputo thanked the board for letting him serve and noted how impressed he was “with the staff and stakeholders” he encountered.
An education veteran who started with the district on Aug. 18, Caputo was hired while the district pursued a permanent replacement for John Rizzo, whose final day was Aug. 25.
In other business, the board learned that the district received a refund of $173,117 from the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit.
The refund was due to the final costs for educating Williams Valley students at the IU Special Education Center in 2022-23 were lower than what was originally assessed and paid for by the district. The original assessment was $723,675 while the final costs were $550,557.
Costs include providing students instruction in life skills classrooms, autistic support classrooms, emotional support classrooms and providing services such as speech and language support.
Also, it was announced that previous motions would be rescinded for hiring two volunteer basketball coaches following their resignations.
Also, it was announced that Williamstown EMS would hold presentations on bullying and drugs and alcohol at the elementary and high schools.
The next board meeting is Oct. 26. The committee of the whole meets at 6 p.m. and the regular meeting is at 7 p.m. in the high school library.
Source: Berkshire mont