WARREN SCHOOLS District hires new treasurer

By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A retired Niles School District treasurer has been named treasurer of Warren City Schools.
The board of education appointed Frances C. Barta to the post during a special meeting Wednesday.
Barta, who was treasurer in Niles from 1980 to 2000, replaces Greg Slemons, who resigned in July to accept a position in the Orange School District, near the Cleveland suburbs of Beachwood and Pepper Pike.
"I'm really excited," said Barta, who has been interim treasurer since July. "I enjoy working here and it's like d & eacute;j & agrave; vu because I worked here for a year, 22 years ago. I'm back."
Barta will earn $75,000 a year.
Compliments: Nick Frankos, school board president, said he is "tickled pink" that the district was able to hire Barta.
"We don't have to go out and find someone because we have what we want in our midst," Frankos said.
Board members said that Barta's experience and training are an asset to the school district.
"I couldn't be more thrilled," Linda Metzendorf said. "She is very qualified and will do a great job for us. She has an excellent track record."
After retiring from Niles, Barta spent about seven months working as a consultant with Hubbard schools during that district's search for a new treasurer.
The board, which paid Barta $45 per hour as interim treasurer, paid the Ohio School Boards Association $5,400 to conduct a search for Slemons' replacement.
Board members, however, said the search was unsuccessful. The board did not feel any of the OSBA's candidates were qualified.