Board considers manager to help superintendent

Members said they'd like more discussion before creating the position.
AUSTINTOWN -- The board of education is going to consider hiring a business manager.
Meeting Tuesday, the board tabled a resolution that would create the position and direct the superintendent to develop a job description and salary guideline.
Board member Dr. David Ritchie urged the board to table the resolution because the money spent on the position will be significant.
Board member Traci Morse Merlo also said she wanted the resolution tabled because she'd not heard any discussion about it.
Board president Michael Creatore said he believes the district needs a business manager to oversee employees and purchasing. "It's difficult with no assistant superintendent for [Superintendent Doug Heuer] to tackle these things."
The district eliminated the position of assistant superintendent three years ago as a cost-saving measure, Heuer said.
Creatore also said having a business manager would eliminate the need for some supplemental contracts, in which teachers are paid stipends for additional work.
Curriculum director needed
The board is planning to schedule a special session to discuss creating the new position, and also plans to discuss options for replacing Ann Marie Hiznay, director of curriculum and instruction, who resigned at the June board meeting. Her resignation goes into effect in August.
Hiznay, who was with the district three years, has taken a position with the Mahoning County Educational Service Center.
Heuer said one option the board is considering is hiring a replacement to work for the district as Hiznay did, at a salary of between $70,000 and $75,000 a year. The other is to use an educational service center. Heuer said the cost for that would be about the same.