McDonald hires Youngstown schools official as interim treasurer

McDonald hires Youngstown schools official as interim treasurer

McDONALD

The McDonald Board of Education has hired William Johnson, retiring Youngstown schools treasurer, as interim treasurer for the district.

He replaces former Lori Simeone, of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center, who has been working in the district for a day a week.

Simeone took over for former treasurer Brian Stidham, who left in March to becme Matthews treasurer.

After Simeone’s first 10 days, she was paid $35 a day for up to 24 days not to exceed $8,400. Johnson, a McDonald resident, will be paid for 50 days at a rate of $200 a day.

Johnson has been treasurer in Youngstown since 2007. He is expected to retire from that position in July.

Johnson on Thursday was placed on paid administrative leave through the remainder of his Youngstown contract, and the city district will hire an interim treasurer while a new national search is conducted to find a replacement.

The action came from the district’s Academic Distress Commission. Commission Chairwoman Adrienne O’Neill said she couldn’t comment about the reasons Johnson was placed on leave, but during the meeting there was much discussion about the student count and the district’s five-year forecast, which Johnson prepares.