By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The board of education hired Kathy Ahearn of the Guecerio and Guecerio law firm to negotiate their annual contract between the district, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the state Education Department to cover education costs for Native American students. She will receive $125 per hour.

Ahearn is the primary council for the Salmon River Central School District and recently completed their negotiation on an identical contract, Director of Instruction Evelyn Fiske pointed out.

The board debated briefly over the wording of the resolution used to hire her, Interim Superintendent William Crist pointed out it is identical to those used for the district’s other law firms. He said he wanted it constructed more broadly in case she should happen to offer sound advice on a matter unrelated to the Native American contract.

Crist said Ahearn’s hiring will not impact its use of its current attorneys.