Carlynton to hold meetings on superintendent hire

The timing of two state statutes has resulted in Carlynton school board temporarily changing job titles of two administrators.

Acting Superintendent Joseph Dimperio resigned from his position and was appointed to the position of temporary substitute director of fiscal affairs and finance. Christopher Juzwick was appointed to temporarily fill the vacant acting superintendent position after temporarily leaving his position as finance director. The changes will be in effect Oct. 21.

Juzwick will maintain his current salary, as will Dimperio.

“Several statutes come into play,” solicitor William Andrews said. “The school code relative to superintendents and acting superintendents as well as the state retirement system don’t line up.”

Andrews said leaders from both the state Department of Education and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System made the recommendation to temporarily switch the positions.

The school board voted 5-0 for the change during the Sept. 10 voting meeting. Missing from the meeting were board members Jim Schriver, Kelly Zaletski, Leanne Mitchell-O’Brien and George Honchar. The meeting was held after the finance committee meeting and posted online earlier that day.

After the title changes were made, Dimperio said the district received 24 applications for the open superintendent position, and said he hopes the begin the interview process some time at the end of the month or early October.

“Carlynton has a very good reputation,” Dimperio said. “It’s kind of an odd time to start the search but we did receive a lot of applications.”

Public meetings will be held to offer district residents and staff a chance to offer input on what qualities and characteristics the new superintendent should have. University of Pittsburgh consultant Diane Kirk will facilitate the meetings.

They will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the Carnegie Elementary School auditorium, 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Crafton Elementary library and 7 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Carlynton Junior-Senior High School Cougar Collaboration Room.