43
CEO still taking an aggressive approach to improving Youngstown City Schools
YOUNGSTOWN
Although progress is going slower than he would like, CEO Krish Mohip said he now has an aggressive leadership team in place for improving Youngstown City Schools.
Mohip announced his new hires, part of moving toward Goal Four of the Strategic Plan – to build a “world-class” workforce.
The hires included about six people taking over leadership positions with combined salaries of about $500,000.
Some of the hires include: Greg Slemons as chief financial officer on a 12-month contract at an annual salary of $133,000; John Laplante as chief information officer on a 12-month contract at an annual salary of $123,000; Joe Nohra as chief of operations on a 12-month contract at an annual salary of $115,000; and Pat Lowry as director of strategic initiatives on a 12-month contract with an annual salary of $75,000.
“I have assembled a team of extremely talented senior leaders that never before have come together to work in one [Mahoning] Valley district,” Mohip said. “This senior leadership team is committed to our kids and prepared to do whatever it takes to help them succeed.”
He said an issue he observed upon taking over the district was not a lack of staffing, but a lack of leaders to march the district toward success.
“The district has failed in leadership at the highest levels from the board and through the central office,” Mohip said. “This stops now.”
Paula Valentini, Youngstown Education Association vice president, said the union supports Mohip’s effort to create a strong leadership team.
“Whether this team will warrant the high salaries that they are being paid remains to be seen. With that being said, it is the responsibility of this district’s teachers to implement the academic initiatives to benefit our children, yet we are one of the lowest-paid group of educators in the county,” she said. “It’s important to remember that this will make it difficult to attract new teachers to our district in the future.”
Improving leadership doesn’t end at Mohip’s new hires. His next focus is on building-level leadership.
“I will be extending the days our current principals work and increasing their salaries accordingly,” he said.
“I will ensure that we are attracting and retaining the best administrators through competitive wages.”
During the update, Mohip also announced he was indulging in cost-saving opportunity by using the Mahoning County Educational Service Center.
“Rather than hire an outside individual at full cost, the district will share services through the ESC,” he said.
The district will share Alternative Education Director Jennifer Merritt and Human Resources Director Cheryl McArthur for a combined savings of $120,000.