GIRARD Junior high principal in line to be superintendent
A new principal was hired to take over the troubled Girard Intermediate School.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Joseph Shoaf, principal of Girard Junior High School, is expected to become the school district's next superintendent.
Both Richard Ragozine, board chairman, and Jane Harris, a board member, said Tuesday that Shoaf is the likely candidate to replace Superintendent Anthony D'Ambrosio.
During a special meeting, the board accepted D'Ambrosio's resignation effective July 31.
D'Ambrosio has been named superintendent of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center at $95,000 annually. He will replace Elizabeth Ross, who has taken an education position in Gov. Bob Taft's administration.
Before the school board meeting, Harris was asked if the board was going to look outside the district for a new superintendent. She responded, "I think we're going to move up [from within]."
She added that Shoaf, who is also administrative assistant to D'Ambrosio, is the likely replacement.
Ragozine said after the meeting that discussions are being held to hire Shoaf.
Background: Shoaf, of Cortland, is a 1984 graduate of Grand Valley High School in Orwell in Ashtabula County. He received his bachelor's degree in 1988 from Youngstown State University, from which he received his master's degree in 1993 and doctorate this year. On June 14, he became the father of triplets -- Jenna, Victoria and Joey.
Other business: The board also made some administrative changes and hired a principal.
David Leo of Girard, principal of Maplewood Elementary School, was hired as intermediate school principal. He has a three-year contract at $66,255 annually. Leo replaces Robert Foley, who would replace Shoaf as junior high school principal.
The Foley move was not welcome news for some parents.
Holly Hunkus, vice chairwoman of the citizens group Girard Concerned Parents, said Foley was the first administrator to officially inform parents that intermediate pupils were becoming ill at the building.
The school was closed May 1 because of pupil, teacher and staff illnesses that have been traced to the ventilation system. Remedial work is being planned to reopen the school.
Hunkus said she couldn't find out from Ragozine the reason for the Foley transfer. She suggested that the reason was Foley's openness in sending the letter to parents informing them of illnesses.
Ragozine said the letter had nothing to do with the situation. Rather, he asserted, Foley has junior high experience and Leo has experience with intermediate pupils.
yovich@vindy.com