BUTLER TWP — The Butler Area School District board of education Monday approved multiple personnel reassignments related to the closing of Butler Middle School.

Also at the meeting, board member Tom Harrison submitted his resignation, having accepted a new position as a senior pastor of the New Covenant Church in Clarion County.

The board will vote on his resignation at its next meeting and also begin the process of selecting a new member. District superintendent Brian White said the board has options in the selection process, but a new member must be chosen within 30 days of Harrison’s effective date of June 30.

Personnel from the middle school are being reassigned to fill positions in different schools in the district. With the closing of the middle school, fifth grade will shift to elementary schools, sixth grade will shift to Butler Intermediate High School and ninth grade will be in Butler Senior High School.

White said it is typical for the board to approve multiple personnel changes over the summer. Additionally, many reassignments in the eight-page personnel report are voluntary.

“A lot of people are requesting different assignments,” he said. “I think it’s actually a little larger than most years because the middle school closure created a lot of movement around the system, so I think there is a little staff realignment going on.”

White also said he expects district administrators to make an announcement soon regarding the future of the middle school building, which closed at the end of the school year.

“We are actively discussing with some folks about possible uses of the building,” White said.

The board also approved construction change orders for the high school addition project, which is adding a gymnasium and classrooms that will house ninth-grade students. White said the additional cost of some of the change orders made are still covered by the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

The school board heard a construction update from Eckles Construction Services, the project manager. White said he plans to organize a tour of the classroom addition for the school board members to check on the progress over the summer.

During the meeting of the Committee of the Whole, the members of the school board recognized student athletes, which had been a tradition at the district prior to the coronavirus pandemic.