Pallone hired as New Kensington-Arnold superintendent

Former state Rep. John Pallone now can add another job title to his varied resume: superintendent of New Kensington-Arnold School District.

The school board on Thursday hired Pallone, 52, of New Kensington and gave him a three-year contract in a 5-3-1 vote. Pallone's brother, school board President Bob Pallone, abstained.

John Pallone on Oct. 1 will take over the reins from Acting Superintendent Tom Rocchi, who has been filling in since July, when former Superintendent George Batterson's five-year contract expired.

It was unclear exactly when Rocchi would return to his former role as elementary principal. Officials said Rocchi, who did not apply for superintendent, will help Pallone with the transition.

Pallone said that once he officially is on the job next month, he will review district operations with administration and staff before reporting back to the school board with his vision for the district.

“I'm a lawyer. I'm very deliberate in what I do,” he said.

With his background as a municipal solicitor, state legislator, county commissioners' administrator and school board member, Pallone indicated public service is in his blood and serving his home school district was a natural choice.

“I am a product of this school district,” said Pallone, a 1978 Valley High School graduate. “I am what I am today because of the community I live in. Hillary Clinton said it takes a village to raise a child. I knew that before she said it.”

Pallone served as a legislator for the state House 54th District for 10 years until his defeat by Eli Evankovich, R-Murrysville, in 2010.

Pallone, who was school board president when Batterson's predecessor, Tom Wilczek, was hired in 1995, acknowledged the challenge school boards face when hiring a new superintendent.

The board faced scrutiny this time around, not only due to the Pallones' family relationship, but also because John Pallone will be the first superintendent in the state hired under a law that was amended this summer to allow professionals with a law degree to lead school districts.

That amendment followed a change to the school code a year ago that permits non-educators with graduate degrees in business or finance to be superintendents. John Pallone believes a few non-traditional superintendents have been seated under last year's legal changes.

Board members Eric Doutt, Deb Glushenko, Regina Namey, Pat Petit and George Zavadak supported hiring Pallone. Directors Marilyn Claassen, Jason Fularz and Liney Glenn objected.

No board members commented on their votes during Thursday's meeting. Claassen and Glenn previously said they wanted a superintendent with a more traditional education background.

Glushenko said she struggled with her decision but ultimately opted for John Pallone.

“Everything in me says he can do this job and do it well,” she said. “So would it make sense not to pick him because some might not agree only because of his name?”

Glushenko said she appreciated his qualifications, knowledge of the law and “cut and dry” attitude. She also noted he agreed to a six-month trial period; if the board is dissatisfied with his performance, he can be let go in April.

Pallone will be paid a provisional salary of $90,000 for the first six months of his tenure. In April, if he is retained, his salary will be raised to just shy of $110,000 — $1,000 more than Rocchi, the district's next-highest paid administrator.

Although Pallone can receive a health benefits package through the district, he said he will continue to pay for the less expensive benefits for which he is eligible as a former state legislator. District labor attorney Ray Sekula said Pallone foregoing health benefits will save the district about $15,000 per year.

Doutt said Pallone's relatively low salary requirements — the average in the Alle-Kiski Valley's 15 school districts was about $136,000 last year — will save the district upward of $50,000 per year. Batterson's salary was about $127,000 last year.

“It's a unique opportunity,” Namey said. “I think it's going to be a good move. And if it's not, we have the opportunity to bail out.”

Liz Hayes is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-226-4680 or lhayes@tribweb.com.