×

Girard approves contracts for leaders

GIRARD — The Board of Education has approved new five-year contracts for the school superintendent and treasurer that include a 2.5 percent pay increase each year.

The board at their meeting Dec. 20 granted the new contracts, which are effective Aug. 1, 2018 to July 31, 2023.

Superintendent David Cappuzzello, who has been with the district seven years, is paid $112,750. Treasurer Mark Bello, who has been with the district for 24 years, is paid $107,000.

Board President Mark Zuppo said both administrators have done a lot for the district and scored well on evaluations done by the board. He said the district has had clean audits with no citations under Bello and Cappuzzello’s leadership with many projects and improvements completed at school buildings.

In another matter, the board will be preparing a timeline for the planned 1,000-seat performing arts auditorium to be constructed on the west side of the high school off Shannon Road.

The board previously hired Axiom Architects LLC of Youngstown at $600,000 for the design and planning of the auditorium addition.

Zuppo said a timeline will be finalized at the beginning of next year and an official groundbreaking will be held in the spring with a goal to have the project done by spring or fall 2019.

School officials have said the high school has a cafetorium with a small stage for programs but there is not enough room to get students in grades seventh to 12th in the cafetorium all at the same time. Separate assemblies have been held or moved to the main gymnasium.

Plans are to hold graduations, musical performances, plays and other school events in the new performing arts auditorium.

Another plan is to possibly begin offering theater and drama classes, not only dealing with performing on stage, but behind the scenes such as lighting, sound and scenery for productions.

In other action, the board:

∫ Heard from Zuppo negotiations will begin in March with the teacher’s union and the non-teaching union. Contracts for both expire in the summer of 2018;

∫ Hired Nicole Luklan as an academic intervention specialist at Girard Intermediate at $78 per day from the Title I fund and Susan Hukari and Katie Bible, both as one-on-one educational assistants at Prospect Elementary for seven hours per day;

∫ Recognized outgoing board members Cheryl Asente, who served four years, and Joseph Melfi, who has served in public office in many capacities since the 1970s. Asente chose not to run and Melfi was defeated in the election;

∫ Approved the Trumbull County Educational Service Center to serve as business advisory council for the district;

∫ Approved a SNAP-Ed nutritional education program for Prospect for three years;

∫ Set an organizational meeting for 4 p.m. Jan. 4.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today