City schools have a new superintendent
By JULIE GHRIST, staff writerSTEUBENVILLE - A new teachers' contract and a new superintendent are among some of the changes in the city school district this year.
Board members met in special session early today to accept a contract agreement with the Steubenville Education Association and to name Michael McVey as the new superintendent.
The contract for teachers becomes effective this school year, which beings Wednesday, and runs through 2011, according to officials.
Current Superintendent Rich Ranallo said the issue of health care, wages and terms and conditions of employment were the matters addressed in the contract agreement.
The contract states the association will receive a wage increase of 3 percent the first year, 2 percent the second year and 2 percent the third year.
"Thank you to all who negotiated. This came to a nice, happy ending," said Ruth Ann Bruzzese, board president.
The board also accepted a recommendation to approve McVey as the district's new superintendent.
McVey, who is currently the assistant superintendent, will take the reins of the district on Monday.
Following the approval of the board, Ranallo was given a change of assignment and will take over as the associate superintendent for the district until Dec. 31.
McVey explained Ranallo's resignation due to retirement purposes takes effect Monday, but he has been granted an extension of his current contract until the Building Excellent Schools for Tomorrow project is completed.
Project B.E.S.T. involves the Ohio State Facilities Commission assisting the district in modernizing its schools and bringing the district from eight schools to four. The OSFC pays 77 percent of the project costs while the district pays the remaining 23 percent through Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, a donation from the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation and donations from individuals and organizations.
The continuing work to Steubenville High School's auditorium along with resolving settlement issues at West Pugliese Elementary School have to be dealt with before the project is complete, according to officials, who estimate the completion date will be Dec. 31. Should the completion date be extended, Ranallo's contract could be extended as well, McVey noted.
Project B.E.S.T. is estimated to be more than $28 million, and includes housing ninth through 12th grades at Steubenville High School; having sixth through eighth grades at Harding Middle School; kindergarten through fifth-grade pupils at Garfield East Elementary and West Pugliese Elementary; preschool through fifth grade at Wells Elementary School; and preschool and special needs classes at McKinley Elementary School.
Also today, the board:
Accepted the resignation of Bonita Lucci as facilitator at West Pugliese Elementary School.
Approved the employment of the following: Patrick Hibbits, part-time custodian; Lucia Scaffidi, part-time cafeteria worker; Steve Herring, resource officer for Harding Middle School; Kim Wolfe as assistant volleyball coach at Harding; and Alexis Tonacchio as a substitute general education teacher.
Approved change orders totaling approximately $110,000 to DeSalvo Construction for the West Pugliese building.
(Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)
