Struthers board chooses interim schools chief

Don Dailey will be leading the district at a critical time.

STRUTHERS — The board of education chose an interim superintendent Monday to replace Sandra DiBacco-Tusanic, who leaves Friday to start another job.

Don Dailey, who is a former Boardman schools superintendent, will begin today. He will remain until the school board is able to name a permanent replacement.

He will be paid $325 a day, and the district will pay 100 percent into his retirement account.

He was chosen from two candidates. The board would not name the other.

The Mahoning County Educational Services Center recommended the candidates, board president Sheri Noble said.

“He seems like a class act,” said Noble. “He comes highly recommended and the board is excited with our choice.”

She said Dailey will be leading the district at a critical time — it emerges from state-controlled fiscal emergency status today.

Noble said the district wants to concentrate on bolstering academics.

Dailey retired from Boardman three years ago. He was superintendent there for four years and spent 39 years there altogether.

DiBacco-Tusanic will become superintendent at Beaver Local School District. She is replacing Willard Atkins, who is retiring.

DiBacco-Tusanic spent eight years at Struthers. Her current contract paid her an annual salary of $83,000.

She’ll be paid $93,367 annually under her three-year contract at Beaver Local.

DiBacco-Tusinac’s demonstrated ability to secure state funding for building projects was a factor in her appointment to the Beaver Local Schools, according to district officials there. The district has tried get voter approval of levies to provide the district’s share of its building project.