Hempfield superintendent Wolicki resigns after extended leave of absence

Hempfield Area Superintendent Tammy Wolicki is officially retiring instead of returning to her job after an extended leave of absence.

Wolicki was appointed as Hempfield’s superintendent in 2017. Her contract was renewed in 2021 and was set to run through June 2027. According to board solicitor Krisha DiMascio, Wolicki’s contract anticipated her right to retire.

Board members approved her resignation Monday. It is effective March 21.

Wolicki has been on a paid leave of absence since the beginning of November, and was initially expected to come back at the start of 2024. Her leave of absence was extended until March 31.

At the end of October, Bob Reger, the district’s director of human resources, had confirmed Wolicki was taking a leave of absence and said at the time she was not leaving the district.

“It has been my pleasure to serve the Hempfield Area community in various roles, including teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent,” Wolicki said in a statement.

She joined the district in 1992 as a kindergarten teacher and reading specialist, and worked as an assistant principal at Wendover Middle School, principal of Stanwood and East Hempfield Elementary schools and assistant superintendent for elementary education. She also held leadership roles at Greensburg Salem and Fox Chapel Area school districts.

Wolicki said her return to Hempfield Area in 2014 as assistant superintendent “was like returning home.”

“I am grateful for all the opportunities and friendships throughout my 34-year career,” she said. “I wish the district all the best in the future.”

Wolicki did not comment on her reasons for retiring.

Steps ahead

Interim Superintendent Kimberlie Rieffannacht, who has been holding the reins at the district since Wolicki’s leave started, now will remain in her role until June 30.

No decisions have been made at this time about a superintendent search process, Rieffannacht said.

“We are going to miss her,” Rieffannacht said.

She cited Wolicki’s many years in different roles at the district.

“We’re thankful for her time here, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

The district is facing several unresolved issues, including discussions over security upgrades, following incidents involving guns in the schools last year.

The district is also assessing its next steps on its high school construction project, which stalled in summer 2023 because bids were millions of dollars over budget. Work was originally intended to start last year.

The district hired a new owner’s rep, McKinley Architecture and Engineering, in late October to guide and assess the project. A representative from McKinley said at the time that the firm would be taking a look at the first phase of the project and presenting recommendations to the board.

A buildings and grounds meeting is slated for February, when McKinley representatives will explain some of the firm’s findings. Rieffannacht previously said the administration has been working with McKinley and will share information when it is available.

“We’re going to continue to move forward,” Rieffannacht said Monday night. “We have a lot of things to accomplish, and we are going to keep working with the board and their committees to get what needs done, done.”

Rieffannacht was previously the assistant superintendent for elementary education in the district. While she serves as interim superintendent, John Behrendt, principal at Fort Allen Elementary, will serve as assistant to the superintendent in central administration.

Jennifer Purkiss will move from the role of assistant principal at West Hempfield Middle School to Behrendt’s previous role of interim principal at Fort Allen. West Hempfield Middle School social studies teacher Mark Beck will serve as interim assistant principal at West Hempfield Middle School, and long-term substitute Ashley McNamara will fill his social studies class.