CLYMER — Clymer Central School is using a little-used — and complicated — process to hire a new technology teacher.

Clymer has been without a technology teacher for almost a year but the district has not been able to find a candidate despite placing advertisements and working with colleges and agencies. The district Board of Education approved the hiring of Robert Slava II as agriculture and technology teacher. Because Slava is not certified, Clymer is using a three-year Transitional A Certificate process through BOCES for Slava to attain his state teaching certification. BOCES teachers in the Career and Technical Education program can certify teachers with a CTE certification.

“What we’ve been doing and trying to work through is to get him certified through this transitional certification,” said Beth Olson, district superintendent. “It’s a Catch-22 because in order for him to even have his application reviewed by (the state Education Department) he needs a commitment from the district that we’re going to employ him, but you can’t employ him unless he’s (certified). So what you see in front of you is our commitment to him that we would back him based on his credentials and then (the state Education Department) can review his application. When all the boxes are checked and they approve him, then we can move forward and employ him.”

Slava could begin teaching this year once the state Education Department approves him, but it’s not known when that approval may come. Olson said Slava’s application must be in the system for two weeks before a review can even be requested. Slava is an area resident who has a bachelor’s degree and a background in farming. Olson said the position Clymer is envisioning for Slava will include technology and agriculture.

“He’ll be using the woodshop to design stalls for animals and then build some simulations in the woodshop,” Olson said. “Students will get hands–on experience and CAD experience with agricultural relevance. We talked about electrical or engineering. There’s a piece in there for welding. He knows how to weld and he can show kids how to do that. There will be a focus on that technology piece with this particular candidate. He still has to jump through all the hoops to get certified. He’ll have three years to do that.”

In other business:

¯ the board approved coaches for the upcoming rescheduled fall sports season. Dave Bodamer will be the varsity football coach, Dan White will be the junior varsity football coach and Marc Heiser will be the modified football coach. Velvet Persons will be the school varsity volleyball coach with Ashley Walker serving as junior varsity volleyball coach and Breanna Summers as modified volleyball coach.

¯ the board approved using May 28 as an additional vacation day because the district did not use any emergency closure days this winter.