Girard schools consider rehiring athletics director

By Lee Murray

TheNewsOutlet.org

GIRARD

The Girard Board of Education unanimously approved the possibility of rehiring former Athletics Director Joseph Cappuzzello.

Cappuzzello retired June 1. The board has discussed how best to fill the role, Superintendent David Cappuzzello said at the board’s Wednesday meeting, adding that rehiring Cappuzzello would be the best fit for the school district financially.

“We’re killing about three birds with one stone here,” Cappuzzello said. “We were looking at many options. One of those options was to bring Joe back at a lower salary rate, and in doing so we realized we could bring back another person for about half the cost of one person.”

Joseph Cappuzzello’s salary before he retired was $73,000 per year, including a benefits package that included medical and dental insurance. If the board approves his re-employment, his salary would be $27,500 per year with no benefits package included in the deal.

David Cappuzzello added that a second employee would be employed to both assist the athletics director and to fulfill some secondary duties, such as school bus supervision. The salary for this position is $17,000 with no benefits package.

The district would save $29,000 in the process. The board will vote on the hiring at a future meeting.

David Cappuzzello is Joseph Cappuzzello’s cousin.

During the meeting, the board also approved hiring two teachers. Ashley Belcik will start as a fifth-grade teacher at Girard Intermediate in the fall on a one-year contract for $30,674.

Edward Mackiewicz, a social studies teacher, will start at Girard High School on a one-year contract for $33,741. Both contracts include a benefits package, the board said.

TheNewsOutlet.org is a collaborative effort among the Youngstown State University journalism program, Kent State University, University of Akron and professional media outlets WYSU-FM Radio, The Vindicator, The Beacon Journal and Rubber City Radio, both of Akron.