Interim superintendent to stay awhile in Struthers

By William K. Alcorn

The board was deadlocked over two finalists for the job.

STRUTHERS — Donald Dailey, former Boardman Schools superintendent, will continue as interim superintendent of Struthers City Schools until July 31, 2009.

Dean Burns, president of the Struthers Board of Education, said Dailey offered to continue for another 15 months when it became clear at a special meeting Wednesday that the board was deadlocked over the two finalists for the job.

The finalists, selected from 17 applicants, were James A. Ciccolelli, former Campbell Schools superintendent, and Lori Saunders, special services coordinator for Struthers Schools. The board had intended to hire a new superintendent this month, who was to start June 1.

Dailey was hired as interim superintendent in November 2007 after Sandra DiBacco resigned to become superintendent of Beaver Local School District.

Burns said that while he is disappointed the board could not come to a decision on a permanent superintendent, he is pleased that Dailey offered to stay on for the next school year.

When hired last year, Dailey was paid $325 a day and the district agreed to pay 100 percent into his retirement account.

Burns said Dailey would continue to be paid on a per-day basis, but that details of the financial arrangement had not been worked out. However, Dailey’s compensation will not exceed $84,000 for the year, Burns said.

The school district has about 2,200 students, a staff of 140 certified and 71 classified employees, and a budget of about $19.6 million.

Dailey retired from Boardman three years ago. He was superintendent there for four years and spent 39 years there, beginning as a teacher.