After eight years at the helm, Hamburg Area’s top administrator has decided that it’s time for a change.
Superintendent Steven Keifer submitted his resignation to school directors, who voted to accept the resignation on Dec. 15.
“I feel like it’s the right time,” Keifer said. “We did a lot to move the district forward. Technology has improved significantly and our facilities are great.”
Keifer oversaw the implementation of the district’s one-to-one laptop program, which provides a laptop for all high school students to use during the school year.
Two elementary schools were built during Keifer’s time on Hawk Hill, which allowed the district to consolidate five elementary schools into two.
The completion of Tilden Elementary Center and Perry Elementary Dedicated to Esther H. Ludwig completed the district’s building plans for the forseeable future.
“Financially, we are in great shape,” Keifer said. “We’ve had minimal tax increases each year.”
The district has increased taxes by .25 mills for several years.
Keifer also oversaw the completion of improvements to Hawks Stadium, which included a new playing surface, eight-lane track and bleachers.
In other news, school directors tabled a vote on purchasing software which would collect information on how the district’s technology is being used.
The software is called BrightBytes and includes surveys of teachers, students and parents.
“It’s not a solution, but it provides information to analyze,” Keifer said. “It’s using technology to measure technology.”
Administrators and school directors are trying to determine how successful the district’s technology initiatives have been.
The cost of the software is about $2,200.
The next meeting of school directors is Monday, Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room.
