Plum Borough School District hires new business manager from Johnstown
Plum Borough School District officials have chosen a Johnstown man to replace retiring district manager Eugene Marraccini.
School directors unanimously voted at a special meeting Aug. 16 to hire John Zahorchak as director of business affairs at a prorated salary of $98,000.
Zahorchak served as Greater Johnstown School District's business manager since 2012. He earned degrees in human resource management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is an active member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials.
Steve Schlauch, Plum school board member and personnel committee chairman, said Zahorchak delivered a superb presentation compared to several other candidates.
“I think he's a pretty intelligent, pretty cerebral guy,” Schlauch said. “I think he's going to combine his internal motivation with his bright mind of numbers. I think he's going to be a good fit here.”
“John is an exciting new addition to central administration and his outstanding record of service to Johnstown will only enhance our district's ability to improve overall operational, financial and strategic management effectiveness,” assistant Superintendent Guy Rossi said.
“We liked his interview. He had a good presentation,” board President Kevin Dowdell said of Zahorchak. “He's from the Johnstown area and wants to move into Plum. We like his experience and some of the examples of what he's done in the past. I think he knows our financial situation and is not afraid of coming here and taking on the challenges we're facing here.”
Challenges the district is facing include a lack of a fund balance, along with the need for additional revenues and reduction of expenditures. The district has a nearly $4 million deficit that was found earlier this year while planning for the 2016-17 budget.
Other challenges include Rossi leaving as assistant superintendent in October for the same post at Gateway School District, and Superintendent Timothy Glasspool and high school Principal Ryan Kociela on paid administrative leave in late May, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The board hired Levin Legal Group to investigate current and former employees mentioned in an Allegheny County grand jury report that questioned why district officials did not act on or report rumors about teachers sexually abusing students.
According to Marraccini, the investigation has cost the district $9,300 through June. Invoices for July were not in as of Advance Leader presstime.
Marraccini served as the district's business manager for a little more than nine years. His last day is slated for Sept. 9.
He said the board is working on an interim business manager deal so he could assist Zahorchak with the transition.
Marraccini said he plans to devote more time to his accounting practice and other projects.
“I'm not retiring from life, I'm just retiring from Plum,” he said. “I loved (my time at Plum).”
Other personnel moves approved Aug. 16 include:
• Resignation of Kathleen Graczyk as director of special education and pupil personnel.
• Resignation of Rachel Gattuso as assistant high school principal.
• Hiring Louis Thon as high school social studies teacher.
• Hiring Alexis Federici as Holiday Park Elementary STEM teacher.
• Appointing Adam Szarmach as interim assistant high school principal at a pro-rated salary of $82,000 with an end date to be determined by administration.
• Hiring Sean Oglesby as Oblock Junior High School health and physical education teacher at a $100 daily per diem.
• Hiring Ryan Kennah as a high school earth and space science teacher at a start date to be determined.
The board approved a five-month agreement with Keystone Educational Consulting LLC at a cost of $45,000 to provide special education and pupil personnel services.
Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer.
