HERMITAGE SCHOOLS Board selects a new principal

The board's choice didn't apply the first time around.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- It's one more down and two to go as the school board seeks to put a new team of administrators in place for next year.
The board met Monday to name Eric Trosch principal of Hickory High School, effective July 1. His starting salary is $68,500.
Trosch, 34, a native of the Pittsburgh area, has been in the district six years and has served as interim principal since Feb. 1, when Dr. Kathleen Nogay left to become assistant superintendent of Slippery Rock Area School District.
Trosch was a middle school guidance counselor when he was named interim dean of students at the high school in August to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of assistant high school principal John Camuso.
Other appointments: With Trosch's promotion to interim principal, the board named Jeanette Whitehead, a high school guidance counselor, as interim dean.
Assistant Superintendent Karen Ionta was named superintendent in March and, in May, the board promoted Carol Gurrera, Artman Elementary School principal, to director of administrative services, a job previously handled by Ionta.
Both appointments are effective July 1.
Duane Piccirilli, board president, said that leaves the district still searching for an assistant high school principal and a principal for Artman Elementary. The board hopes to fill both by July.
Ionta said the district also has to fill a middle school guidance position.
The vote for Trosch was 8-0, with board member James Lumpp absent. Piccirilli said Lumpp supports the appointment.
& quot;We've really put you in some tough situations, and you've met all the challenges, & quot; Piccirilli told Trosch, noting that student and staff morale is very high.
Didn't apply earlier: Trosch didn't apply for the principal's position when it was first advertised earlier this year.
He didn't have all the proper certification and wasn't sure he could get them in time, said Dr. Louis Mastrian, superintendent.
The board interviewed five candidates from its initial pool of applicants but decided to reopen the application process to attract more candidates and Trosch and others applied.
He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Edinboro University, a master's in secondary education and guidance from Slippery Rock University and is working on a master's in secondary administration and his principal's certificate at Westminster College.