Officials vote, appoint new superintendent

Dr. Donna M. DeBonis has served as supervisor of curriculum and instruction for the past decade.
SHARON, Pa. -- Sharon school board has picked an administrator from its staff to be superintendent.
The board voted unanimously Monday to appoint Dr. Donna M. DeBonis, giving her a four-year contract. Terms of her employment, including salary, will be negotiated later, but her first day as superintendent will be July 1.
DeBonis came to Sharon City School District from Farrell Area School District 13 years ago as an education technology specialist and was noted for her strong ability to write and secure educational grants.
She maintained that reputation even after her job changed when she was named supervisor of curriculum and instruction about 10 years ago.
Handled duties before
She's not a newcomer to the superintendent's job. She's served as both acting superintendent, when the district was between superintendents, and as substitute superintendent when her predecessor, Richard Rossi, was ill.
The board had voted in November not to renew Rossi's five-year contract when it expires June 30 and launched a search for a successor.
The search was narrowed down to six candidates who were called in for initial interviews two weeks ago and had follow-up interviews late last week.
DeBonis thanked the board for the opportunity to serve and said she intends to work with the staff and administration to provide the best quality education possible for Sharon pupils.
Her first order of business, she said, will be to see that the district's new five-year strategic plan, a planning document required by the state, is completed. Development of that plan is already under way.