Foriska will lead Hempfield schools

Hempfield Area School District has a new superintendent and a new budget.

Terry Foriska, who served as assistant superintendent for the past six years, got the nod Thursday for the post that was vacated by Wayne Doyle, who retired.

Foriska, 53, was the unanimous choice. His first-year salary was pegged at $126,000.

The Mt. Pleasant Township native said he faces two major challenges as he takes the helm: "Continued academic excellence" and whether the district is "fiscally responsible."

Regarding the latter, the board passed a $76.4 million budget with a millage rate hike of 1.25 mills. It was the fourth consecutive year taxpayers have seen a millage increase.

Last year's increase was 1.6 mills.

Foriska, who earned his doctorate in 1991 from the University of Pittsburgh, said the "ideal" situation would be to avoid a tax hike, but "we all face inflation each year." He added residents seem to appreciate "the benefits of the school (and) the quality of education that's provided here."

The vote to pass the budget was 5-3. The ninth school board member, Timothy Miller, was absent.

Director Anthony Bompiani, voting against the budget, placed the onus for the millage increase on the contract settlement with teachers. The contract was approved by a 5-4 board vote last fall.

Bompiani said the contract, which he voted against, "puts us in a bind for the next 5 years."

School Director Betty Valerio said Foriska's 6-year tenure as assistant superintendent with responsibility for secondary education was decisive.

"He was very professional. He never overstepped his authority," Valerio said.

No one else was interviewed for the superintendent's job, Valerio and Bompiani said.

Bompiani said he hoped Foriska's hiring would allow the board to step back from trying to "micromanage" matters better left to the administration.