The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

March 20, 2007

Superintendent for 2 districts? Dual Sharon-Farrell leader suggested

Sharon director raises idea; Farrell may be open to discussion

By Courtney Anderson

SHARON, FARRELL — A Sharon school director threw out an idea Monday that theoretically could save the district and a neighboring one some cash.

Christopher Gavin suggested the district explore the idea of sharing a superintendent with Farrell Area School District.

Gavin said he didn’t know if the Pennsylvania Department of Education would allow such a move, but school board President Melvin Bandzak said “it never hurts to talk.”

Both school boards are at different stages of searching for a new superintendent, as Farrell Superintendent Richard A. Rubano officially announced last week that he would be retiring at the end of the school year and Michael Calla has been serving as acting superintendent at Sharon since Donna DeBonis’ contract ran out in July 2006.

Reached by phone Monday night, Farrell school board President Michael Wright said he didn’t know if sharing a superintendent would be feasible for the district, but it’s a “scenario that would probably eventually be considered.”

Wright said there are a lot of issues the board would have to analyze.

“It’s a shot in the dark,” he said, “But I won’t decline any suggestion.”

He said it would be up to the entire school board and that down the road they may want to consider it. Wright also was not sure if the department of education would permit the arrangement.

No other members of Sharon school board had any comment on the suggestion at Monday’s meeting.

At last week’s work session, Bandzak said the superintendent position was being advertised and the deadline for applications was “coming up.” He said the board expected to hire someone for the job as soon as possible.

Wright said Farrell directors will meet in the next few weeks to determine a timeline for their superintendent search.

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