What a difference a year makes in the Montour School District. Last year at this time:

• High school students were preparing for their third year of classes in a half-gutted school in a renovation project that was to be done in phases and was developing as a two-year project under construction manager Burns & Scalo.

• Patrick Dworakowski was superintendent, Jean Maravich was assistant to the superintendent, Frank Marocco was dean of students and Ron Weaver was assistant to the middle school principals.

• Sam Reichl was the business manager.

• Bill Ewonce was the school board president and chief defender of the status quo.

• Donald Boyer was a consultant, and few people in the district had ever heard of him.

And a year ago, school directors were frustrated as they cut budgetary corners, unaware that the district had a bank balance of about $28.7 million.

As school opens this year, the high school has been shut down and is undergoing a full-assault, one-year renovation under a new construction manager, Thomas and Williamson.

High school classes will be at David E. Williams Middle School, grades seven and eight at Ingram Elementary, and grade six in an isolated wing of the middle school. Ingram children will be mixed in at Burkett Elementary for grades K-4, with all fifth-graders at Forest Grove Elementary.

Ms. Maravich, Mr. Marocco and Mr. Weaver are all gone, with elementary principal Jason Burick replacing Ms. Maravich as a one-year administrative intern.

Mr. Reichl is gone, placed on unpaid administrative leave after the school board learned that it had been kept in the dark regarding a budgetary reserve.

And Mr. Ewonce was bounced from the board presidency, a move he described as punishment for his newfound opposition to the status quo.

The central figure in all this change is Dr. Boyer, who was named acting superintendent in September after Dr. Dworakowski resigned.

A former superintendent, Education Department financial officer and consultant, Dr. Boyer early this year recast the renovation project and spearheaded the reorganization of classes.

He also issued critical reports on district functions -- financial matters in particular. And he did it with the full support of Mr. Ewonce, who said his understanding of the district and education changed completely after seeing Dr. Boyer at work.

The moves culminated in a power struggle at the end of March, when six board members rejected part of Dr. Boyer's reorganization plan and ousted Mr. Ewonce. But the tide turned a few weeks later when audits released by Dr. Boyer revealed the existence of the budgetary reserve. That money has since been placed in a fund designated for future elementary school renovations.

As the new school year dawns, the district appears to be unified behind Dr. Boyer as it enters a period of rapid transition.

But with Dr. Boyer's contract expiring Sept. 15, the looming question is whether the district can keep him longer -- something that would have to be approved by the state, since he is technically retired and his pension could be jeopardized.

The other issue is finding a permanent replacement. Having found no attractive candidates in its initial searches, the school board has hired the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to do a statewide search.

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