×

Niles school board names Rhonda Amorganos as new treasurer

Fiscal commission must approve appointment of current Howland officer

NILES — The Niles Board of Education on Thursday took the first step to get a school treasurer in place as soon as possible as recommended by the Fiscal Planning and Supervision Commission.

The board by a 5-0 vote recommended offering Howland Local Schools treasurer Rhonda Amorganos a 3.5-year administrative contract as Niles school treasurer effective Feb. 3 at $90,000 annually. The contract will be through July 2023.

Board President Tony Perrone said the decision to hire Amorganos will have to be approved next week by the commission, which strongly advised the board last month to get a treasurer in place.

The commission is scheduled to meet noon Wednesday at the school administration building and also will have to act on the contract for Amorganos.

Former Niles treasurer Lori Hudzik had been on unpaid leave since last summer and was ordered to return to the treasurer job in December. When she failed to do so, the board unanimously accepted what is called a “voluntary resignation” by abandonment of position from Hudzik.

Brookfield Local Schools treasurer Craig Yaniglos has assisted Niles for the past three months as an interim treasurer under a shared services agreement, but he is leaving Jan. 31 for a position as treasurer and chief financial officer with the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District.

Amorganos also has been helping Niles schools in recent months and working with Yaniglos on financial matters. Niles previously entered into an agreement with Howland Local Schools to get additional assistance from Amorganos. That agreement also expires Jan. 31.

Before Howland, Amorganos previously served as treasurer for Hubbard and Brookfield school districts.

Perrone said Amorganos was selected because of her years of experience as a treasurer and how she has helped Niles in recent months.

“She has helped to move Niles in the right direction. We realize all the help we have received being in fiscal emergency. We are excited to be able to get the district on the right track. We are now able to get the ship turned around,” Perrone said.

In addition to Yaniglos and Amorganos, Perrone also credited Superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen and Lori Simione from the Trumbull Country Educational Service Center with helping get the district’s finances in order.

Yaniglos said at the meeting the district’s five-year forecast will be revised for the Feb. 20 board of education meeting.

“It is very positive the direction the schools are taking with the five-year forecast. The district has made some good moves with health insurance to help with the finances,” he said, noting a new health insurance change with a tier system will benefit the district financially.

He said that will be explained in the revised five-year plan.

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? *
     

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today