Highlands School District’s new superintendent formally resigned from her previous post with the district.

Monique Mawhinney started as the district’s assistant superintendent in April 2018. She became substitute superintendent in place of former Superintendent Michael Bjalobok, who went on medical leave July 2 last year and retired on April 1.

The school board voted in March to name Mawhinney as superintendent. She was given a five-year contract starting April 1 that runs through March 31, 2024. Her annual base salary starts at $150,000.

Mawhinney came to Highlands from Hampton Township School District, where she had been director of pupil services for 17 years. Highlands had not had an assistant superintendent since 2015, when Patrick Graczyk left to become superintendent at Allegheny Valley.

Mawhinney had previously been a high school special education teacher for four years and an assistant principal for four years at Hampton.

Other personnel moves

The school board also approved:

Chuck Debor’s resignation as athletic director and facilities scheduler, effective June 30. Debor, a physical education teacher, said he stepped down to focus on teaching. Hiring three paraprofessionals, all of whom will work at Highlands Elementary School. Rossana Sosa started April 1 and is being paid $15.48 per hour; Robin Mallon started April 8 and is being paid $12.98 per hour; and Jamie Mace will start April 22 and be paid $13.48 per hour. The resignation of Lynn Malaspina, a licensed practical nurse at Highlands High School, effective April 2. She was approved as a substitute nurse for the rest of the school year.

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