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Sebring school board places treasurer on paid leave
Investigation into neglect of duty allegations ongoing
By Denise Dick
SEBRING
The longtime Sebring Village School District treasurer has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of an investigation of neglect of duty allegations.
The school board took the action Monday night by a 5-0 vote after an executive session.
Pete Hill, who’s been treasurer for 26 years, retired and was rehired three years ago. His annual salary is about $68,000, said Tracie McFerren, board vice president.
His contract expires July 31, and last October the board voted not to renew it, she said.
Both McFerren and Superintendent Toni Viscounte declined to elaborate on the allegations that led to the board’s decision.
Hill couldn’t be reached to comment.
“It was brought to the board’s attention through the superintendent,” McFerren said.
The investigation is in the early stages so it’s unknown how long it will take.
McFerren said the board is conducting the investigation and that it could involve legal issues.
At the same meeting, the board hired Thomas Morehouse as the district’s new treasurer. He’ll earn $72,000 annually, beginning Aug. 1. Morehouse, who works at the Portage County Educational Service Center, is scheduled to begin working in the district July 1. The board had intended to have a month overlap when the outgoing treasurer would work with the new officer.
Morehouse will earn about $284 per day for the 23 days he’ll work before his three-year contract begins.
Morehouse will make more than Hill because as a retire/rehire, Hill hadn’t received any raises while other administrators and teachers did, McFerren said. The higher figure is what the treasurer would be making had raises been granted during those three years, she said.
In the interim, the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, to which the Sebring district pays dues, will provide a treasurer without extra charge, the school board vice president said.
Hill’s leave is just the latest shakeup in the Sebring schools administration.
Last April, the board allowed then-Superintendent Christopher Lewis to use accumulated sick/vacation time for the remainder of the 2013-14 school year and agreed to buy out the last year of his contract for $111,000.
In March 2014, the board had without explanation suspended Lewis with pay. A few days later, he was reinstated and a news release said, “they wanted to investigate the allegations of inappropriate conduct that were alleged to have been reported to the Ohio Department of Education during Lewis’ employment with Sebring.”