Youngstown school board to administrators: Move into city

By Harold Gwin

Both men say they have no objections to relocating.

YOUNGSTOWN — The city school board has told two top administrators that they must move into the city within 120 days of the beginning of their new contracts.

Richard Atkinson, chairman of the board’s Certificated Personnel Committee, sent letters to Damon Dohar, assistant superintendent for human resources, and William Johnson, district treasurer, reminding them that school board policy requires them “to set up residency within the Youngstown City School District.”

The letter notes that the school board understands this is a difficult economic period, and, if either administrator is unable to move into the district within the allotted time period, they must appeal in writing to the board.

Both administrators said they have no objection to moving into Youngstown but both say there are financial situations with which they must deal.

Dohar, hired by the board in August 2007, lives in Boardman and said he’s been trying to sell the home he bought there in 2003 but hasn’t been successful. He was recently awarded a new two-year contract at an annual $88,810 salary.

Moving into Youngstown “is not an issue. I’m excited to move into the city,” Dohar said, noting that he and his wife hope to rent one of the apartments in the Realty Towers project on Federal Plaza, which is to be finished in June.

“I’m on the wait list,” he said.

The school board has been very understanding of the economics of the situation, he said, referring to efforts to sell his Boardman home.

“I don’t have any problem moving into Youngstown. I like Youngstown. I feel like I’ve found a home here,” said Johnson, who now lives in McDonald, about five minutes from his office on Wood Street.

Johnson was initially hired in November 2007 under an 18-month contract paying him $80,000 a year, considerably less than the $93,000 annual salary earned by his predecessor.

He came to Youngstown with only small district experience as a treasurer, and his initial employment was something of a trial period, with both sides agreeing that if it didn’t work out, they would go their separate ways, he said.

“They do want me to move into the city,” he said, but pointed out that type of financial commitment can be difficult on a short-term contract.

“I would like a little more security,” he said, noting that the school board is currently working on a new contract for him, preferably something in the range of three years.

The board had been considering a three-year contract with a salary of $84,424 for 2009-10 but hasn’t voted on the pact and may be considering some changes in the document.

Board members have said they expect to resolve the treasurer’s contract soon.

gwin@vindy.com